UBUNTU! A Poetry & Musical Celebration: “I Am Because We Are”

 Audiences are invited to experience UBUNTU! A Poetry & Musical Celebration: “I Am Because We Are”, an uplifting, hour-long performance of soaring poetry and healing music celebrating our shared humanity. Inspired by the philosophy of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—the program reflects on our interconnectedness and shared responsibility for one another.

The event will take place on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 12:45 PM at the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science of Mind   Suggested admission: $20 (or pay what you wish) For more information: https://cslasheville.org/events/

Created and performed by U.S. Cultural Ambassador, award-winning solo performer and poet Ronald Rand, this evocative program—introduced by Sherri Free—intertwines original poetry from his latest collection, “The Marsh in May and 30 Poems,” with timeless works by Rumi, Khalil Gibran, Rabindranath Tagore, and Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark.

The performance is enriched by a blend of live and recorded music, featuring LEAF Culture Keeper-33rd generation Ivory Coast master djembe artist Adama Dembele, alongside David Washington, Rev. Dr. Suzi Schadle, and Imani. Additional music includes recordings by Kusi Mahlasela and the Ubuntu Voices’ “The Circle Moves” Sacred African Choir. David Washington, Director of Music of the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, will also share original compositions, adding depth and resonance to this unique artistic experience.

As Martin Luther King Jr. expressed, “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.” By honoring the grace and wisdom of our ancestors and the stories that unite us, UBUNTU! celebrates the enduring spirit of compassion, community, and the endless stream of human experience.

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Sunday, May 31, 2026 | 12:45 PM
• Location: Center for Spiritual Living Asheville
• Address: 2 Science of Mind Way, Asheville, NC
• Admission: Suggested $20 (pay what you wish)
• More Information: https://cslasheville.org/events/

About the Artists

Ronald Rand is a U.S. Cultural Ambassador, award-winning International Performing Solo Artist, Poet, Director, and Founder and Publisher of “The Soul of the American Actor” Newspaper. A four-time Fulbright Specialist, he has represented the United States in 28 countries, at the Theatre Olympics, and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts in his solo play, LET IT BE ART!. He is the author of several books, including “CREATE!” and  “The Marsh in May and 30 Poems with 29 Paintings by Ronald Rand”.

Adama Dembele is a 33rd-generation master djembe musician from Ivory Coast, West Africa, and a longtime culture keeper with LEAF Global Arts. He performs internationally and teaches traditional West African rhythms.

Rev. Dr. Suzi Schadle serves as Senior Minister at the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville and is known for her dynamic speaking  and empowering leadership in spiritual education.

David Washington has been the Director oif Music at the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville since 2014. A composer, vocalist, singer, and keyboardist, he creates music that inspires spiritual connection and wholeness.

Imani is a ceremonial musician, storyteller, and artist whose work is rooted in decades of rhythm, ritual, and spiritual practice. She is the steward of the 18th Peace Chamber.